HEROIN

(CNN)The number of heroin users in the United States jumped from 404,000 in 2002 to 948,000 in 2016, a 135% increase, according to the most recent government numbers. But even more striking: The number of people who had fatal overdoses related to heroin has skyrocketed from 2,089 in 2002 to an estimated 13,219 in 2016 -- a 533% jump.

In 24 of the nation’s largest cities and the counties that surround them, Fentanyl-related overdose deaths increased nearly 600 percent from 2014 to 2016. There were 582 fatal overdoses linked to Fentanyl in 2014, a number that soared to 3,946 last year. Officials estimate there will be a much higher number of fatal Fentanyl-related overdoses in 2017.

Students with higher income from part-time employment were more likely than those with lower income to report NMO or heroin use. The association with income was strongest for frequent NMO use and stronger for heroin use than for lifetime NMO use. Income had the smallest effect on lifetime NMO use.
The researchers note that their analysis did not include data for similarly aged adolescents not enrolled in school. Some experts predict that NMO and heroin use may be higher
among those young people.
This study was supported by NIH grant DA-038800.
Source
Palamar, J.J., Shearston, J.A., Dawson, E.W., et al. Nonmedical opioid use and heroin use in a nationally representative sample of U.S. high school seniors. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 158:132-138, 2016.

What does heroin addiction and withdrawal feel like? -As told by a heroin addict.

After even the first use of Heroin, the drug has taken hold. Within hours after using, the drug effects have decreased, the body begins to go into withdrawal, which has been described as a craving for more. If I do not take more heroin, I will begin to experience withdrawal. This is withdrawal: My head feels like it's about to explode in a wave of big despair. My joints and muscles hurt like they never have before, I have all over body spasms, I feel cold and put on clothes. After a minute it's too hot so I take off my clothes, breathing is difficult. All this time my brain is screaming at me, 'you need the dope, you can't survive this, get the dope. Now! Now, I fully realize the addiction. I don't want it, but I desperately need the dope right now. But then I try to run to the toilet only to fail and vomit my guts out on the carpet. Paranoia begins to take over. I go to the toilet again urinating, defecating, vomiting all at once. I wince with so much pain. I shake, cough, walk like a living dead, like a creature whose life-force was absolutely sucked away. I'm starving. I try to eat only to vomit an hour later. At 7PM I want to sleep. Nothing helps me fall asleep. I've fallen to my mental and physical bottom. I think about committing suicide. But I cannot, I'm so weak that I lie there on my bed helpless. Everything hurts. Please, God, if this is death, make it quick. I'm weakened to the point of death. I don't know what to do.

The next morning I'm gradually feeling better. I can hold down a bit of food. I can sleep for a couple of hours. My whole house stinks from all vomiting and defecating. I decide to quit cold turkey or through a rehab program. I throw all my paraphernalia away. Every day is a struggle, but I fight.

I'm going to start my life over. I hope for the best. I hope not to relapse. I'm basically starting my life over. It is very hard, but I know I'll manage somehow. I am grateful that I didn't die. I start to make life goals, work out, stay away from "bad people", get another job. Addiction destroyed every hobby I loved before using. But I'm on the mend. My perseverance is making a difference. I'm clean. I have a support system. My life is getting back on track.

After days, weeks, months, or years, I relapse. Why do I relapse when I've got the world at my feet? I relapse because I feel overwhelming stress in my life, I'm bored, I don't know how to manage cravings, I don't follow the relapse prevention plan from rehab, I am exposed to triggers like being around people who use, being in places where I used to buy or use heroin, lack of a support system and spending too much time alone, past trauma, anxiety, and depression sets in. But as an addict I believe that heroin will make everything better. It will numb me. I won't have to think about my own disappointment in using, letting my family and friends down, or all the things I've done while under the influence. It isn't getting "high" anymore: I need increasing amounts of the drug just to feel “normal.”

And the cycle continues. I use to numb then I feel the guilt and despair, so I get into recovery. I start my life over with new goals and a new-found hope for my future. I do well for a period and suddenly, the voice of addiction gets louder and more persistent in my head. Using is the only way to get relief.
I use again.

Relapse rates for heroin and opiate addiction hover around 90%, according to some research. One study found that of 109 subjects who had achieved sobriety in heroin rehab, 99 relapsed. Of the 99 people who relapsed, 64 did so within one week.
Sep 7, 2016

Opioids are Everywhere

The truth is, drugs are not just available at shady corners in the "bad" parts of town. These days, opioids, such as prescription medication and heroin can be found everywhere...

...from high school locker rooms to college campuses to the medicine cabinet in your own home. Dealers are also everywhere and seek out potential users, often offering them free doses. Dealers understand it takes once to become addicted and seek out those who haven't used and convince them that heroin is a miracle drug.The flow of opioid abuse from prescriptions to harder drugs generally begins fairly innocently. Adults and teens alike start out taking prescription opioids because they are prescribed to them following surgery or an injury, or for chronic pain, and they become addicted. Most people that become addicted one would never suspect them of developing a drug problem.

Statistics published by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA)[1] have shown that while younger teens prefer drugs such as alcohol and tobacco, due to them being readily available almost anywhere, older teenagers favor the use of opioid pain relievers (Vicodin, fentanyl, and others)[2], all of which are easily obtained from "friends" (because everybody knows somebody who can get these forms of medication), family, or their own prescribing physician. Additionally, probably due to the current medical trends, oxycodone and codeine have become two of the most common opioids abused by teens, mostly because they are seen as less risky. After all, if a doctor prescribes them, they can't hurt, right?
As more doctors medicate either the child or the parent, prescriptions enter the household through legal and innocent ways. Pills are often kept after their purpose is gone. The child may begin to use their prescription to self-medicate, or even to give a friend. This experimentation with prescription pills can quickly turn into a dependence, and more commonly than expected, teens can turn to a cheaper, stronger opioid such as heroin when the supply of medications runs dry or because they can no longer afford to buy pills. An 80-milligram tablet of Oxycontin can run between $60 and $100 according to many reports. In most states, a bag of heroin is cheaper than a pack of cigarettes. Huge amounts of heroin flood the market, which keeps the price low.

Heroin is an addictive, dangerous and deadly opioid that is becoming more commonly used by people from all walks of life. Heroin was once seen as something reserved for the inner cities, but now it is found in cities and towns all across America. People from all racial backgrounds and people in all income brackets easily become addicts. Further, heroin is widely available in schools, college dorms and campuses. Dealers are eager to seek new users and "share" their supply with our children despite the fact that they are fully aware that one dose causes addiction, both mentally and physically and likely leads to death. Because of their desire for cash and their complete disregard for human life, they continuously offer new children this deadly drug day in and day out often saying that "heroin is a warm blanket" or "heroin will be your best high". Further, seeking children who are already under the influence of alcohol or other substances makes their intentions easier as judgement is altered immensely in the minds of these kids. Lastly, the ortality rate of heroin users is twenty times greater than that of the rest of the population.

[1] https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/principles-adolescent-substance-use-disorder-treatment-research-based-guide/frequently-asked-questions/what-drugs-are-most-frequently-used-by-adolescents
[2] https://www.drugabuse.gov/drugs-abuse/opioids

The New Face of Heroin

The image of a listless young heroin addict with a blank expression, dark circles under the eyes, excessive thinness, greasy hair, dirty clothes collapsed in a filthy, dark alley is obsolete.

Today, the young addict could be 12 years old, play video games and enjoy the quintessential activities of youth. He could appear smart, stylish and bear none of the common traces of heroin use, such as needle marks on his arm.

Because it is available in various forms that are easier to consume and more affordable, heroin today is more tempting than ever. A young person who might think twice about putting a needle in his arm may more readily smoke or sniff the same drug. But this is falsely reassuring and may give one the idea that there is less risk. Many young people experiment with heroin thinking, "I'll try it once to see what it's like. I can always stop." But those people who start down that road find it impossible to turn back. The truth is that heroin in ALL its forms is dangerous and addictive. Some reasons our young people have given for taking drugs: to fit in, to escape or relax, to relieve boredom, to seem grown up, to rebel, to experiment. The consequences of drug use are always worse than the problem one is trying to solve with them.

Addressing Opioid Abuse

Spotting opioid abuse in teenagers may seem a bit daunting, they are going through a difficult, hard to interpret, phase as it is.

That moodiness that is so common in teens may just be part of a hormonal imbalance and the need for privacy (aka locking themselves up in their room) could be just a normal coping mechanism against the stresses of their daily lives, but these behaviors could also be signs of trouble.

There are ways to detect whether our kids are using opioids, and fortunately, most of them only require good observation skills, a knowledge of their routines and appearance, and the use of all our senses. In short, in most cases we just need to give them a good look to figure out if something's wrong.

The first step in finding out whether our children have been using opioids is the direct approach. Ask them. While the worst thing that could happen is them answering "Yes", asking directly can open the door to having an honest conversation which could lead to prevention, and, at the very least, to finding out if there is anything wrong in their lives. But don't expect every child to be so open about something they already know is wrong, which means that even though they may deny using opioids, or any type of drug, sometimes it will become necessary to dig even further.

Signs of Opioid Addiction

Some of the most telling signs of opioid abuse are of a behavioral nature. A child who may have once been easygoing and friendly may have suddenly become withdrawn...

...and moody for no apparent reason. It is at this point that we, as parents, must start observing our children carefully. Kids might exhibit other warning signs of opioid use, including mood and personality changes, such as the avoidance of activities that were once important, becoming sullen, withdrawn, and/or depressed. They may lose their inhibitions or become silent and uncommunicative. They may also become hostile when questioned and refuse to cooperate during conversations. Becoming deceitful or secretive can also be an indication of opioid use, especially when coupled with other signs, together with a loss of motivation and focus. The inability to step up to their responsibilities, and an inability to plan are also noticeable signs, together with a loss of interest in school or extracurricular activities, the slipping of once good grades, and complaints from teachers or employers.

As with other aspects of their life, once teenagers begin using opioids, the effect of these substances will become apparent in their physical appearance. As the problem advances into full blown addiction, a child's hygiene will be the first area to suffer. If your child stops caring about his or her appearance (messy clothing, lack of personal hygiene, track marks or slurred speech), especially when a child has previously taken great care with how they look, you are very likely to discover the abuse of opioids is the root cause.

Finally, drug abuse, always, without exception, brings about health problems, especially with prolonged use. So, if your teen is presenting health issues such as being unusually tired, lethargic, numbness, is unable to feel pain, is slurring his or her speech, has small pupils, nausea or unexplained vomiting, presents with rashes or flushed skin, skin abrasions, unexplained localized skin infections (from the use of needles), unexplained weight loss, or depression, it might be time to get professional help for you child.

Never be afraid to ask for help from those who have specialized in opioid abuse. This is a problem that will not disappear on its own and could bring your child to an untimely and catastrophic end. Talking to our children now, before a problem arises, can prevent a potentially life threatening situation, one which we may have to carry for the rest of our lives.

When teenagers abuse opioids they exhibit very poignant behaviors, including the following:

Changes in their relationships with family or friends
Breaking curfews and missing appointments
Confusion
Poor concentration
Avoiding eye contact with parents
Goes out every night, even during the school week
Making excuses to avoid family functions and outings
Unexplained giggling, clumsiness and lack of coordination
Changes in sleeping patterns

The Dangers of Fentanyl

As young people switched to heroin, the heroin supply also became more dangerous. This caused the sharp increase in heroin overdose deaths. Increasingly, fentanyl, a potent and inexpensive synthetic opioid, was mixed with heroin or sold as heroin.

To Fight Opioid Addiction, Scientists See Promise in Sea Snail Venom

In the battle against opioid addiction, scientists are turning to an unlikely ally: sea snails.

Drug overdose deaths

Once rare, drug overdoes is now the leading cause of accidental death in the U.S., surpassing peak annual deaths caused by motor vehicle accidents, guns and HIV infection.

The data show that the situation is dire and getting worse. Until opioids are prescribed more cautiously and until effective opioid addiction treatment becomes easier to access, overdose deaths will likely remain at record high levels.

The rise of heroin

Drug-addicted individuals are deeply stigmatized — indeed, often despised — and often their perceptions of the treatment they receive are not assessed or valued under the faulty logic of “who cares what a drug addict thinks?”

Source: CDC Drug poisoning mortality statistics. Graphic by Alex Newman.Choose this theme to customize and add content to this page.

HEROIN

Opioids are Everywhere

The New Face of Heroin

​Addressing Opioid Abuse

​Signs of Opioid Addiction